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UCL's PhD programme in political science is one of the most competitive in Europe. Small cohorts receive extensive training to prepare for senior positions in research, teaching, or applied work in government, international organisations, private firms, and the third sector.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2021
Modes and duration
The programme takes 3-4 years. Part-time study is not allowed.
Application dates
Tuition fees (2021/22)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.
Entry requirements
The minimum academic requirements are an upper second-class Honours degree (or equivalent) and merit (or equivalent) in a recognised Master’s degree programme and a minimum 65% mark on the Master’s degree dissertation. At least one of the three has to be a first class/distinction (or equivalent). Students applying for the 1+3 without a Master’s degree will need to have a first-class Honours degree (or equivalent).
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Advanced
UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.
Select your country:
Overview
The department welcomes research in all the major sub-fields of political science. This includes international relations, political economy, public policy and management, legal and political theory, comparative politics, and data analysis.
Research areas
Academic staff have a strong record of research and publication within all the main subfields of politics, including:
- British politics: constitutional and parliamentary reform; devolution; electoral participation; alternative electoral systems.
- Comparative politics and government: democratisation; the politics of ethnicity; political campaigns and electoral behaviour; comparative urban, rural, and local politics; public opinion.
- EU politics and public policy: decision-making and institutions; regulation and delegation; lobbying; constitutionalism; citizenship and democracy.
- Human rights: human rights and globalisation; theories of human rights and justice; adjudication and interpretation; democracy, religion and human rights; global poverty and human rights; militias, non-state actors.
- International relations: international peace and security; globalisation and global governance; international migration; international finance; international trade and investment.
- Political economy: distributive politics in welfare states; political economy of development.
- Public policy: business-government relations; executive and bureaucratic politics; public ethics.
- Political theory: the history of modern political thought; multiculturalism, toleration and citizenship; democracy and constitutionalism; contemporary political philosophy.
About this degree
Training sequence for empirical stream:
- PhD Research Seminar (required all years)
- PhD Research Design Seminar (required Year 1)
- Introduction to Quant Methods (required Year 1)*
- Advanced Quant Methods (required Year 1)*
- One Qual Methods seminar (required Year 1)
- Big Books in Political Science (required Year 1, 2, or 3)
- Departmental Research Seminar (expected all years)
- Research Cluster Seminar (expected all years)
- Additional relevant training (expected Years 2 and 3)
Training sequence for theory stream:
- PhD Research Seminar (required all years)
- Political Theory Seminar (required all years)
- Big Books in Political Science (required Year 1, 2, or 3)
- Departmental Research Seminar (expected all years)
- Additional relevant training (expected Years 2 and 3)
* Students arriving with previous training in quantitative methods will follow courses at more advanced levels.
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.
Additional costs
For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
Funding
The department offers fully funded 4-year scholarships together with AHRC and ESRC Scholarships. For details on eligibility and application process see Further details on the Departmental Website
Scholarships relevant to this department are displayed below.
Bentham Scholarship
- Note:
- Deadline: 30 April 2021
- Value:
- Full fees and stipend (4 years)
- Eligibility:
- UK, EU, Overseas
- Criteria:
- Based on academic merit
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
Our research students have entered a wide range of careers including leading academic positions, international organisations, private sector, third sector, and government.
Employability
Extensive training in a wide range of methods at advanced levels give students the necessary skill sets to pursue careers at senior levels in and outside of academia.
Networking
Based in London, the programme offers unique networking opportunities to policymakers, academics, and practitioners in the corporate and third sector.
Why study this degree at UCL?
Political science is a discipline with fast moving frontiers and a wide range of increasingly sophisticated methodological approaches. To make our students competitive on the job market, our programme therefore offers one of the most comprehensive and integrated training sequences in the UK.
PhD students are an integral part of the department's research community through participation in departmental research seminars, research clusters, joint teaching, and co-authoring.
All students have a three-person supervisory team providing a breadth of inputs from different sub-disciplines and methodological approaches.
Department: Political Science
Application and next steps
Applications
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found in our How to apply section.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 30 April 2021
Deadlines and start dates are dictated by funding arrangements, which are subject to change, so check with the department to see if you need to consider these in your application preparation.
Note that you MUST identify and contact potential supervisors before making your application. For more information see our How to apply page.
For more information see our Applications page.
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Page last modified on 11 June 2021